ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers bow 3-1 in regular season home finale

Published on March 27, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, NC - Saturday, March 27) The Checkers played a strong game for the second night in a row but dropped a 3-1 decision to the Columbia Inferno Saturday night at Cricket Arena in Charlotte's regular season home finale. A 1-0 second period lead evaporated after the Checkers gave up two short-handed goals by Robin Carruthers and Terry Harrison on the same power play. A third period Inferno power play goal by Jesse Schultz gave Columbia a two-goal cushion and led to the 3-1 final. Columbia goalie Josh Blackburn was spectacular, stopping 39 Charlotte shots while making numerous big saves in helping the Inferno to the win. Konrad McKay scored the lone Charlotte goal. The Checkers have dropped five in a row and saw their record in the last 12 games fall to 1-10-1.

"When you put ninety shots on goal the past two games and score only three goals, that's tough," commented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. "Our offense is just snake-bit and we can't seem to buy a goal. Our special teams let us down tonight too but the guys gave a good effort against a solid Columbia team."

Charlotte got on the board at 11:11 of the first period just after one of their power play expired. McKay took from the puck from the right circle, skated to the slot and beat Blackburn top shelf for a 1-0 Charlotte lead. In one of their most impressive periods in recent games, the Checkers outshot the Inferno 14-8 in the first period and held its 1-0 lead.

In the second period with the Checkers on a power play for four minutes, Charlotte gave up two consecutive short-handed goals. Columbia came up the ice on a two and one and Carruthers beat Checkers goalie David St. Germain with a hard slapshot from the left circle to tie the game at 1-1 at 12:22. Fifty four seconds later seconds Harrison came into the Checkers zone alone, and from deep in the right circle wristed a shot that somehow eluded St. Germain as Columbia assumed a stunning 2-1 advantage. Despite trailing after two periods, Charlotte outshot the Inferno 30-20.

In the third period the Inferno assumed a 3-1 lead on a power play at 14:24, as Schultz was wide open on the far post and tapped in his 26th of the season for the game's final goal in the 3-1 Columbia win.

The Checkers record dropped to 31-31-8 for 70 points and Charlotte saw their home record at Cricket Arena finish at 13-18-5. Charlotte will close out the regular season with two road games next weekend. Friday the Checkers play in Roanoke and then Saturday end the season in Columbia.

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